CHAPTER 411: CHAPTER 411: COULD THIS BE A SCAM?

She started to struggle, thinking hard but without any ideas. Considering the situation of Jiang Lan and the others, doing handicrafts would be best—bringing it back home and also making money. But what kind of handicraft would be good?

Tang Yue, after leaving the Bailutong Team, took the matter to heart. Whenever she had time, she would drag Bai Qing to factories around Jing City. When she saw a factory making dolls, Tang Yue’s eyes lit up instantly.

Tang Yue negotiated with the factory, and when they heard it was for the Bailutong Team, they hesitated at first. Tang Yue said, "Boss, these dolls could let those sisters with nothing to do earn some change. Look, I will leave a deposit of US$ 100 here. After the dolls are made, we’ll bring them back to you. Then, you can calculate the labor cost with us, how’s that?"

Although a doll was only worth five cents, if one was quick, making twenty in a day could earn a dollar.

Moreover, the boss said that if one became skilled, making thirty to forty was possible.

The boss, knowing it was for the sisters at the Bailutong Team, agreed readily and didn’t even undercut their prices. He only told Tang Yue that if they wanted to make them, they could come to the factory and get used to it for a few days before taking it back home to do.

Taking advantage of not having classes, Tang Yue made a special trip to the team.

"Eh, Xiao Yue, why aren’t you in school?" Jiang Lan happened to be sitting outside, basking in the sun with the other sisters. She was surprised to see Tang Yue come by unexpectedly.

If she remembered correctly, today should be Tuesday.

"I don’t have classes this morning." Tang Yue smiled and handed over the dolls she had got from the factory boss, saying, "Are all the sisters here? I want to show you these dolls, what do you think?"

The palm-sized dolls, made in various shapes, attracted everyone’s attention the moment Tang Yue took them out of her bag.

Being girls, these cute and adorable dolls were irresistible to women, both in the future and now.

"So cute," Jiang Lan admired the lovely dolls, hesitant to touch them, as they looked so soft and plush.

"Beautiful," the other sisters remarked as they looked at the dolls.

Tang Yue handed the dolls to them saying, "Sisters, you can touch them; they won’t break." She spoke playfully, and with her sweet smile, she managed to make the sisters laugh heartily.

Jiang Lan felt that Tang Yue had become more approachable, and several people took the dolls to look at them.

Tang Yue didn’t keep them in suspense and said, "Actually, the reason I came today is to ask if you would like to make these dolls. One can earn five cents per doll. Although it’s not much, the advantage is that you can do it right here at the team. After they’re done, you can send two people to collect the dolls and deliver them to the factory."

"This, five cents each?" Jiang Lan looked at the dolls with surprise.

"Yes, didn’t you tell me last time, Sister, that when the children go to school, and you have nothing to do at the team?" Tang Yue chuckled and continued, "So I tried to look around, and indeed I found something useful. You can gather together to make dolls just like now and have chats too."

"Is it really that good?" Jiang Lan’s heart was moved, yet she asked with some trepidation, "These dolls are so well-made; we won’t be able to make them, will we?"

"The factory staff said you could try making them in the factory for a few days first, and once you’ve learned, you can bring them back to make," Tang Yue answered.

Everyone looked at each other, seeing the excitement in each other’s eyes. They came here with the military, and only a few with education could find jobs in the city on their own. Most of them were at home with the kids and had nothing to do.

If they could make these dolls and bring them back, it would mean that everyone could do something in their spare time and earn a little money.

A five-cent coin might not be much, but earning an extra dime is a dime, and earning a dollar is even better.

Everyone agreed on the spot, with over a dozen sisters-in-law planning on going, and several of them went home to fetch things.

"Hey, what’s happening? Where are you all going?" Ruan Xiuxiu, who was slower in doing chores, had just finished hanging her laundry and stood with Jiang Beini, only to see everyone rushing home.

One of the sisters-in-law, who lived relatively close to Ruan Xiuxiu, explained the situation to her.

Ruan Xiuxiu was tempted.

Jiang Beini said, "What if it’s a scam? Are there really such good deals?"

The sister-in-law hesitated, then said, "Regardless, we’ll have a look. There won’t be any issues."

Ruan Xiuxiu uncertainly said, "Beini, if Tang Yue is daring to make connections in this, it shouldn’t be a scam, right?"

"Hmph, if you want to go, then go," Jiang Beini said as she turned to leave.

Ruan Xiuxiu thought for a moment, then quickly followed, saying, "Beini, don’t be mad. About that substitute teacher position you mentioned last time, did it lead to anything?"

This whole incident was unknown to Tang Yue; she had taken more than a dozen sisters-in-law with her in a vehicle to the doll factory.

When the doll factory owner saw Tang Yue and her companions, he was very courteous. The sisters-in-law were respected individuals, and he took them to the workshop to explain in detail how to make dolls.

Jiang Lan and the other sisters-in-law watched very attentively and tried making dolls. Although it required meticulous work, once they got the hang of it, it was quite simple.

At lunchtime, the doll factory owner even provided a meal for each of them. Jiang Lan and the others felt uneasy, but the owner earnestly explained that it was out of respect for the sisters-in-law and that the dolls they had just made weren’t being charged for.

With that, they ate with peace of mind.

Everyone discussed in a lively chatter.

Tang Yue had already agreed with the doll factory owner not to mention the deposit to the sisters-in-law. She had paid the deposit and would give them the dolls to take home. Once they returned the completed dolls, then she would settle their wages.

As time was running out, Jiang Lan and the others unanimously decided to take some dolls home to work on, starting with the simplest ones. Of course, it paid a cent less than the initial five cents, as this doll was indeed the simplest kind.

Inside the Bailutong Team, besides taking care of their children, the sisters-in-law now had a new way to earn money. When they had free time, they gathered together, no longer gossiping about neighbors, but seriously discussing how to make the dolls look better and how to make them faster.

Tang Yue, seeing the success of this venture, sought praise from Mo Siyu that evening.

"How is it? Am I not amazing?" Tang Yue looked at Mo Siyu with expectation, her face begging for praise, adorably so.

"Amazing," Mo Siyu kissed her and said, "My Xiao Yueyue is the most amazing."